Mike Kimbel bounces back from his first professional loss with a decision victory over Sebastian Ruiz on the Bellator 222 prelims.
Young bantamweight prospects on a stacked event as Mike Kimbel faces Sebastian Ruiz in a bantamweight clash on the Bellator 222 preliminary card.
Kimbel (2-1) enters the bout coming off his first defeat as a professional. The Connecticut fighter fell to John Douma by Triangle Choke in the first round at Bellator 215 last February (Kimbel spoke to us about that loss). Prior to that, the 22-year-old was coming off first-round knockout victories over Geoffrey Then and Alex Potts. The win over Potts took Kimbel just six seconds – one of the fastest knockouts in Bellator history.
Ruiz (2-2) also enters the bout coming off a loss in Canadian promotion TKO. Ruiz’s biggest moment so far is when he lost to former TKO champion Jesse Arnett for bantamweight gold back at TKO 43 in May of 2018. Ruiz managed to drop the champion and survive submission attempts several times before getting caught in a guillotine choke with seconds left in round two. However, that was Ruiz’s second fight and one of which he took on six-days notice. Ruiz currently has two victories in his career, both by head kick knockout.
Cageside Press will be at the event this evening, with interviews and coverage throughout the night.
Round 1:
Mike Kimbel charges forward early. Both men exchange kicks. Ruiz is looking for a teep kick. Kimbel lands a big right hand early but Ruiz clinches and pushes Kimbel against the fence. Time is called for a low blow landed on Kimbel. Action resumes in the middle as Ruiz lands a body kick and Kimbel aggressively charges forward. Kimbel now returns with a front kick to the midsection. Ruiz lands with a leg kick. Ruiz now attempts to land a left hand but misses. Kimbel doing well cutting off the cage but eats a right hand in doing so from Ruiz. Kimbel finds his range again with a jab, followed by a straight. Both men exchange hands in the pocket. Kimbel lands with an inside leg kick. Ruiz is now on the attack, but Kimbel stops his aggression with a double leg takedown. Ruiz is back up and after a few more bombs land, the round is over. We got a fight here.
Cageside Press scored the round 10-9 Kimbel.
Round 2:
Action is back underway as both men rush to the middle. Both guys exchange head kick attempts. Kimbel lands a leg kick but both are hesitant in round two so far. Ruiz lands his own leg kick in return. Both guys faintly heavily as Kimbel is no longer cutting of Ruiz, but following him. Ruiz lands a second low blow on Kimbel which the referee calls time for. Action resumes after Ruiz is warned. Kimbel now lands his own low blow and Ruiz is now using the time. Action is back underway as both men trade. Kimbel lands a right hand. Ruiz lands his head kick partially. Kimbel lands a kick and a right hand towards the end of the second.
Cageside Press scored the round 10-9 Kimbel.
Round 3:
Both men start off more aggressive in the third. Ruiz lands a nice right hand up close. Kimbel lands a stiff jab. Kimbel than lands a kick. Ruiz answers with his own front kick. Both men then exchange straight right hands. Kimbel looks high but lands low with the kick. Kimbel lands a big 1-2 combination. Ruiz enters back with his own looping right hand that just misses. Ruiz getting better aggressive after getting bloodied up with Kimbel’s right hand. Kimbel lands another big right hand, followed by a leg kick. Ruiz lands the front kick again, one of his favourite weapons. Kimbel lands a right hand as both men brawl towards the bell. Solid fight between two young prospects.
Cageside Press scored the round 10-9 Kimbel (30-27 Kimbel)
Official Result: Mike Kimbel def. Sebastian Ruiz by Split Decision (28-29, 30-27, 30-27)
Check out the full results from Bellator 222 here!
